Hempstead Co. authorities perplexed by missing men

Joseph Christopher Cowart, 58, of Hope has not been seen or heard from since May 15, 2012. Casey Clark, 31, of Fulton has not been seen or heard from since March 27, 2012.

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By JIM WILLIAMSON,Texarkana Gazette

Stuttgart Daily Leader - Stuttgart, AR

By JIM WILLIAMSON,Texarkana Gazette

Posted Jan. 11, 2013 at 9:23 AM

By JIM WILLIAMSON,Texarkana Gazette

Posted Jan. 11, 2013 at 9:23 AM

TEXARKANA, Ark.

The disappearance of two Hempstead County men last year remains a mystery for Sheriff James Singleton.

"It's an old-fashioned mystery and it's bugging me. We touch on the disappearances at least once or twice a week," Singleton said.

"If we hear about a body being found, we contact the agency to see if it might be one of them," he said.

Joseph Christopher Cowart, 58, of Hope has not been seen or heard from since May 15, 2012.

Casey Clark, 31, of Fulton has not been seen or heard from since March 27, 2012.

Singleton said the men didn't know each other, according to family members.

"No one has used the bank accounts and no one has used their telephones. We've checked with family members, associates and nobody has seen or heard from them. We've been keeping an eye on their phone records and bank accounts, and there have been no activity for either man," Singleton said.

"Cowart kept to himself and is ex-military. His house was locked and his pickup truck parked under the carport and it was locked. It's like he just walked out the door," he said.

Clark was described as "an outgoing guy."

"We're not aware of him having any run-ins with anybody," Singleton said.

"They disappeared and somebody knows something. We would like to tell the family something for closure. Maybe we can find them alive and well," he said.

Cowart lived at 3096 Highway 174 South. He was reported missing by an uncle.

Cowart is a white male, 6 feet tall and 195 pounds.

Clark was reported missing by his father, Melvin Clark. He said Clark had been staying with a friend at Amandex Apartments.